The Breast Cancer Benefit for Mary Gaytko on July 20th was a huge success – over $10K in donations raised for Mary’s medical expenses. We were deeply honored to share our music at the Benefit Concert and to be part of an amazing experience. THANK YOU to everyone who came out to support Mary & her family!
A big shout out to Skip Dixxon of WOCM-FM/Ocean City, Maryland at Irie Radio (AAA) for adding our single “Unfasten” to the playlist! Your support is greatly appreciated!
The different members of Lithium Seven all bring their own blend of influences and styles to the table, and it is thus not surprising that there is a unique, eclectic style that is created in each of this EP’s five tracks. The album starts out with the eponymous track, which ties a bit of rock to a much more emotive feel. “Last Light” is something that gradually grows and increases intensity, until that point when all join into creating a track that will stick in listeners’ minds long after the EP ends. This bodes well for the disc’s second track, “Stolen Car”. “Stolen Car” brings the instrumental side of things to the fore, weaving a narrative during the first minute of the track that dovetails well into the Mellencamp meets Zevon styled vocals.
The back and forth that is crafted between the drums and the vocals pushes the guitar and bass to a whole other plateau. Coming forth with a much more punchy sound for “Unfasten”, Lithium Seven showcases in the course of three tracks three very different approaches. What this means in regards to the rest of the disc is that listeners do not know what to expect. In fact, it is only during “Butterfly Effect” that a common thread for the album comes into view. This thread surrounds the burning intensity that is present during each track; no matter what tempo or influence that the members of the band look to further, this rings true. “Hemingway” is the final track on the Last Light EP, and it provides Lithium Seven with three minutes to properly wrap things up.
Creating an ode that all can sing along with after one or two listens, “Hemingway” sends listeners on a dreamy, atmospheric track that operates at the juncture between rock, alternative, and pop. Five tracks are rarely enough for listeners to properly gain a sense about a band’s unique qualities, but Lithium Seven creates a hell of an introduction with this album. Check the guys out whenever they are touring and keep an ear close to the ground in regards to any music that they may release.
Top Tracks: Last Light, Butterfly Effect
Rating: 8.7/10
Lithium Seven is back with their 5-track EP titled ‘Last Light’ that will definitely get your attention. I had the pleasure of reviewing their previous EP ‘Something Else Is Waiting’ last year for Skope (http://skopemag.com/index.php?s=Lithium+Seven). I was impressed with what I heard then and I am impressed with what I hear now! The strong compound of Li 7 continues to be a solid force that will not be broken.
Lithium Seven is back with the same band members: vocalists & guitarists Shawn & Soren Gormley, multi-instrumentalist Jim Armstrong on vocals, bass, mandolin, keyboards & guitar and Jon Carroll on drums. The powerful chemistry of Li 7 remains intact on their latest effort ‘Last Light’. Their musical diversity and bonding of various music styles is what made their first project so special. Lithium Seven is carrying on that tradition in fine taste by including elements of Rock, Pop, Alternative and some cool singer/songwriter material. These four musicians are taking lessons from the book of eclecticism as they have come up with something pretty special here.
What I liked about listening to this EP was that each song had its own identity. I really enjoyed track three “Unfasten” due to its rock flavor mixed with a scoop of Pop that screams radio play! I was taken aback on song four “Butterfly Effect” because there was such a sense of truth & meaning behind the vocals & lyrics. On the closing number “Hemingway” Lithium Seven decides to shake things up a bit by offering up a real calm & nice touch. Inspired by the great poet Ernest Hemingway, this group strips everything down and lays it all out on the table for the listening audience. It’s sincere, it’s honest…it’s a job well-done!
I’m definitely a Lithium Seven fan now and I suspect that there will many to follow after hearing ‘Last Light’. I can’t wait to see where their creativity & originality will take them next! For now all I can say is that Li 7 is a winning formula that deserves immediate approval. So go tell all your friends right now about Lithium Seven and their brand new EP!
By Jimmy Rae (jrae@skopemag.com)
Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)